Mailman not expected to deliver until at least mid-March

El Segundo, CA (Sports Network) – Los Angeles Lakers forward Karl Malone is
not expected back in the lineup until at least mid-March, as his injured right
knee has been slow to heal.

Malone, who is on the injured list for the first time in his career,
originally hurt the knee on December 21. The team hoped to have him back just
after the All-Star break, but the knee has not responded to treatment as
quickly as expected.

“We have to do an extended healing process,” said head coach Phil Jackson.
“The swelling in the knee has to go down for him to heal that knee up, and
it’s not happening as rapidly as we wanted.”

The 40-year-old Malone, who had not missed more than two games in any of his
previous 18 seasons, is averaging 14.0 points and 9.5 rebounds over 24
contests for the Lakers this season.